Spring-lid box.



J. R. SUNDBE.

SPRING LID BOX.

APPLICATION FILED 1 312.2, 1912.

1,069,299. Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

INVENTDR wimcasis 4x4 Wag/78W flTTElRNEYi-l UNITED STATES PATENT,OFFICE.

JOHN R. SUNDEE, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WARNER JEWELRY CASECOMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SPRING-LID BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

Application filed February 2 1912. Serial No. 674,905.

This invention relates to the class of,boxes.

or cases having a hinged lid or cover provided with a locking catch anda spring for automatically opening the lid when released by pressing thepush button of the catch.

The principal object of my invention is the provision of an improvedlid-opening spring of simple construction which can be produced atnominal cost. Y

A further object is to so construct the spring that it can be readilyapplied to ordinary boxes of the above-mentioned class, especiallyjewelry boxes or cases, without requiring any change or reconstructionthereof.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of asheet-metal jewelry box embodying the invention, the usual velvet orother ornamental covering and the pads being omitted. Fig. 2 isatransverse vertical section of the box.

Similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in bothfigures.

In the construction shown in the drawings, the body 1 of the box and itshinged lid or cover 2, are stamped of sheet metal, but if desired, thebox may be made of any other suitable material.

Located on the front wall of the box-body is a spring catch 3 of anysuitable or well known construction provided with the usual push button4: and adapted to interlock with the customary lip 5 of the lid.

The improved lid-opening spring is preferably bent or stamped from asingle strip of spring-steel and comprises a pair ofelastic leaves ortongues 6, 7 bearing respectively against the rear walls of the box-bodyand lid and a substantially U'-shaped bend 8 which connects said tonguesand embraces the hinge-pin or pintle. 9 of 'thedid, so as to hold thespring in place. The bend 8 is located centrally in the steel strip andmay be formed by stamping therein a transverse indentation of sufiicientdepth to receive the hinge-pintle, the open side of the bend facing thefront of the box.

In the open-position of the lid, the spring tongues 6, 7 are'relaxed andlocated at an acute angle to the bend 8, as shown in Fig. 1, but whenthe lid is closed the tongues are sprung forwardlynearly at right anglesto said bend or substantially in line with each other, as shown in Fig.2. It follows that when the lid is released by pressing the button 4,the strained tongues react and throw the lid to the open position shownin Fig. 1.

A plurality of such lid-opening springs may be used according to thesize of the box, but ordinarily a single spring located centrally of thehinge-pintle is sufficient.

While the bend 8 holds the spring from longitudinal displacement on thepintle, the springis confined against lateral displacement by thehinge-eyes 10 at opposite sides thereof.

The complete lid-opening spring can be cheaply stamped of spring-steelby a single operation, rendering its cost exceedingly small. The springcan be easily applied to ordinary boxes of this kind in assembling thebody and lid by simply pIacing the bend 8 in alinement with thepintle-eyes and then passing the pintle through the eyes and said bend.Separate fastenings for the spring are thus dispensed with and the costof the box is correspondingly reduced.

I claim as my invention? The combination with a box-body and its hingedlid, of a lid-opening spring located inside of the box and bent from asingle strip of spring-steel, said strip being provided in its frontside with a central, transverse-indentation which receives the pintle ofthe lid-hinge and the end portions of the strip bearing respectivelyagainst the rear walls of the box-body and the lid and standing normallyat an acute angle to said indentation.

Witness my hand this 1st day of Febru ary, 1912.

JOHN R. SUNDEE.

, Witnesses:

EDWARD WARNER, C. F. GE-LYER.

